Kansas City Chiefs:

On December 19, 1988, Lamar Hunt hired Carl Peterson as the team's new president/general manager. Peterson wasted no time in making changes, and on January 5 he fired head coach Frank Gansz two weeks after taking over. On January 24 he hired Marty Schottenheimer as the club's seventh head coach. The duo began to rebuild the Chiefs' roster and credibility in the NFL by drafting from the bottom up. In the 1989 and 1990 NFL Drafts, the Chiefs selected a player that would serve alongside 1988's top selection, DE Neil Smith as the team's foundation in the next decade—LB Derrick Thomas.

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From 1989 to 1998, Schottenheimer's tenure as the Chiefs' head coach, the team recorded a 101-58-1 record, and clinched 7 playoff berths. The Chiefs re-established a strong fan base, and Arrowhead Stadium quickly began to sell out every home game, a streak still alive nearly 20 years later. The Chiefs' popularity rose in the 1990s with their "college football game atmosphere" and strong fanbase. Much of the "college atmosphere" has arrived due to the popularity of local Big 12 college football games, often held at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs used a "Big 12" formula in rebuilding their team with players from the local universities throughout the nineties, such as Neil Smith and Will Shields, both from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

The Chiefs' 1993 season was the franchise's most successful in 22 years. With newly-acquired quarterback Joe Montana and running back Marcus Allen—two former superstar Pro Bowl and Super Bowl champions—the Chiefs once again returned to relevance in the NFL. The 11-5 Chiefs defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers and Houston Oilers on their way to an AFC Championship game appearance against the Buffalo Bills. The Chiefs were overwhelmed by the Bills in their first league championship game in 24 years, and lost the game 30-13. The team's victory on January 14, 1994 remains the franchise's last post-season victory to date (as of 2008).

Coach Schottenheimer announced his resignation from the Chiefs following the 1998 season, and defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham took over coaching duties for the next two seasons, compiling a 16-16 record. By the end of the Chiefs' decade of regular-season dominance, Neil Smith departed for the division rival Denver Broncos, which lent a major blow to the Chiefs' run defense.

Looking to change the Chiefs' gameplan which relied on a tough defensive strategy for the past decade, Chiefs general manager contacted Dick Vermeil about the Chiefs' head coaching vacancy for the 2001 season. Vermeil led the St. Louis Rams to a victory in Super Bowl XXXIV with the a record-setting offense. Vermeil was hired on January 12 and brought many elements of "The Greatest Show on Turf" from St. Louis to Kansas City's own offense. With free-agent acquisitions for little risk, the Chiefs gained future Pro Bowlers in running back Priest Holmes, quarterback Trent Green, wide receiver Eddie Kennison, and left tackle Willie Roaf. All the players that Vermeil obtained went on to be major factors in the Chiefs' offensive surge in the early new Millennium.

It took two seasons for the Chiefs' offense under Al Saunders to get rolling, and by the time the 2003 season began, the Chiefs began the season untouchable.

The Chiefs went 13-3 in 2003, and began setting franchise and league records on the way. Running back Priest Holmes surpassed Marshall Faulk's single-season touchdown record by scoring his 27th rushing touchdown against the Chicago Bears. After starting 9-0, the Chiefs began to lose momentum by November, but they still managed to gain the number two seed in the 2004 playoffs. The Chiefs met the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Divisional playoffs in an offensive shoot-out between the league's two best offensive squads. Neither team punted in the game, an NFL first for the playoffs, and the Chiefs lost 38-31.

The Chiefs managed to finish the 2004 season with a 7-9 record. For their 2005 campaign, the Chiefs brought in several new players to boost a defense that had finished among the worst units the past three years in hopes that their aging offensive line could hold up for one more season. The year also saw Larry Johnson start at running back in place of an injured Priest Holmes who suffered a season-ending neck injury against the San Diego Chargers. Johnson rushed for 1,750 yards in only nine starts and was named to the Pro Bowl. Despite winning 10 games, the Chiefs were the fourth team since 1990 to miss the playoffs with a 10-6 record. The Chiefs won the final game of the 2005 season by a score of 37-3 over the playoff-bound Cincinnati Bengals. Coach Vermeil announced his retirement following the game.
Damon Huard (left) and Brodie Croyle (right) have both served as the Chiefs' quarterback since Trent Green's departure.
Damon Huard (left) and Brodie Croyle (right) have both served as the Chiefs' quarterback since Trent Green's departure.

Within two weeks of Dick Vermeil's resignation, then-New York Jets head coach Herm Edwards had signed a new 4-year contract to coach the Chiefs. The negotiations with Edwards were controversial, as the Chiefs were deemed to be tampering with the Jets' head coach while he was still under contract. The 2006 Chiefs featured a weak outline of their previous offensive dominance, and the departure of left tackle Willie Roaf left a hole in the Chiefs' solid running game. Quarterback Trent Green suffered a severe concussion in the team's season opener to the Cincinnati Bengals which left him out of play for 8 weeks, leaving an even bigger blow to Kansas City's offense. No matter how much worry consumed Chiefs fans, backup quarterback Damon Huard took over in Green's absence and led the Chiefs to a winning record. Green returned by the end of the season, but struggled in the final stretch. Running back Larry Johnson still thrived in coach Edwards' offense which relied on a stiff running game and solid defensive ball control.

Kansas City was awarded a Thanksgiving night game against the Denver Broncos in response to owner Lamar Hunt's lobbying for the game to be held at Arrowhead Stadium. Hunt was hospitalized at the time of the game and died weeks later on December 13, 2006 due to complications brought on by a ten-year battle with prostate cancer. The Chiefs honored their owner for the remainder of the season, as did the rest of the league.